AG: 2 Fayette County men arrested during child porn roundup

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Five men, including two from Fayette County, were arrested recently as part of ongoing efforts to target the online sharing, downloading and distribution of child pornography, Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced Wednesday.

Kane said the defendants were 51-year-old William Murray Jr., of Uniontown; 60-year-old Thomas Hall, of McClellandtown; 54-year-old James McNulty, of Philadelphia; 41-year-old Kerry Ritchey, of Bedford County; and 27-year-old Thomas Matthews Jr., of Pottstown.

During a preview apparent child pornography was discovered, Kane said.

Murray is charged with five counts of possession of child pornography, three counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

He was preliminarily arraigned in Fayette County and held on $100,000 straight bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 22 at 10 a.m.

Thomas Hall

Hall was arrested on Tuesday and charged with five counts of distribution of child pornography, five counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility, Kane said.

The arrest was the result of a five month investigation by the Attorney General's Child Predator Section into Hall's alleged downloading and sharing of child pornography, according to Kane.

Hall was preliminarily arraigned in Fayette County and held in the Fayette County Prison in lieu of $100,000 cash bail. Additionally, he was ordered to have no Internet use or unsupervised contact with minors.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.

James McNulty

According to the criminal complaint, agents conducting an online investigation located several files containing images of children, under the age of 18, engaged in sexually graphic acts and poses. Agents later determined the files were allegedly downloaded to and shared from McNulty's computer, Kane said.

Agents executed a search of McNulty's Philadelphia residence, and seized numerous computers and electronic equipment. A preliminary review of the seized items by the Attorney General's Computer Forensics Unit resulted in the discovery of at least 1,300 files of suspected child pornography, according to Kane.

McNulty was taken into custody on Jan. 7, and charged with two counts of sexual abuse of children and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

He was preliminarily arraigned in Philadelphia and released after posting $10,000 percentage cash bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 24.

Kerry Ritchey

Ritchey was arrested on Monday and charged with 20 counts of possession of child pornography, five counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility, Kane said.

The charges state that Ritchey downloaded and subsequently shared child pornography.

A search of his Bedford County home resulted in the seizure of a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a notebook computer and an external hard drive, along with various other electronic media. A preview of these items led to the discovery of suspected child pornography, according to Kane.

Ritchey was preliminarily arraigned and held on $100,000 bail at 10 percent.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 22.

Thomas Matthews Jr.

According to the criminal complaint, agents conducting an online investigation located several files containing images of children, under the age of 18, engaged in sexually graphic acts and poses. Agents later determined the files were allegedly downloaded to and shared from Matthews' computer.

Matthews was arrested on Tuesday and charged with 15 counts of possession of child pornography, five counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility, Kane said.